Parents Attend Internet Safety Workshop
by Dr. Pamela Hollich
January 30, 2008
A group of parents and educators braved the nasty storm on Tuesday night to hear Katherine Dawkins, an expert in the area of informational technology and current laws that are designed to protect children from exploitation through online email or networks.
Katherine is a teacher in Chicago and a consultant for Digital Educators. She has a B.S. degree in elementary education, an M.S.Ed. degree in instructional technology research and assessment, and is the first public school teacher to graduate from the John Marshall Law School's Informational Technology Program with a Master of Science degree in informational technology law. She has published a book, "Protecting Kids Online at Schools and Libraries" that presents a knowledge base about online protection that is valuable in today's technological age as more young people use computer and wireless devices.
Katherine presented valuable information on Internet dangers, privacy issues on the Internet, and how adults can educate and support their child in the home. Suggestions for parental guidelines and expectations were also presented in addition to information about current federal and Illinois laws and how they affect children as young as seventeen. Many children may not realize that they may be prosecuted for their actions on the Internet.
